Officials from the Herat Directorate of Mines and Petroleum report that more than 2,500 workers are currently employed in the province’s mines.

They have pledged that in the near future, with the extraction of several major mines, thousands more job opportunities will be created.

Saifullah Long, head of the provincial Mines and Petroleum Department, stated: "Currently, 1,800 people are working in 26 mines, with approximately 700 employed in large-scale mines. We hope this number will increase in the future."

Some miners in Herat say that access to employment within the country has saved them from migrating to neighboring nations.

Abdul Rahman, who works in the Sabzak coal mine in Karukh district, told TOLOnews: "If such jobs increase, everyone will find work. It’s a great opportunity; the salary is good, and we get to work in our homeland."

Ramazan, another worker, said: "If similar mines are developed in Herat and other provinces, young people will have jobs and won’t need to migrate abroad. The country’s economy will also grow."

Although mining is a demanding and exhausting job, many workers consider it their primary source of income and take pride in working within their own country rather than seeking employment elsewhere.

Hussain, another miner, said: "This is work in our own homeland, and we don’t have to depend on anyone. I am very happy to be working here and providing for my family every month."

According to Herat’s Mines and Petroleum Department, the province has six major mines and 36 small-scale mines. Currently, extraction is ongoing at one large mine, while five others are under exploration. Simultaneously, mining activities continue in all 36 small-scale sites.